Airship

Abstract

An airship having improved controllability which comprises: an axial fluid pathway penetrating through a body of the airship in an axial direction, at least one radial fluid pathway crossing the axial fluid pathway and penetrating through the body in a radial direction, the axial fluid pathway and the radial fluid pathway forming a ventilating-thrusting tube having a rigid framework construction, propulsion means, thrust generating direction of which is adjustable, arranged in a crossing region of the axial fluid pathway and the radial fluid pathway, and a lift balloon arranged beside the ventilating-thrusting tube in such a manner that a gap is formed between the ventilating-thrusting tube and the lift balloon to allow air to flow through. This arrangement lowers a tendency of yawing due to a transverse wind. The airship has a semi-rigid and semi-flexible construction capable of making up for drawbacks of both rigid type and flexible type.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An airship having improved controllability, comprises: an axial fluid pathway penetrating through a body of the airship in an axial direction,   at least one radial fluid pathway crossing the axial fluid pathway and penetrating through the body in a radial direction, said axial fluid pathway and said radial fluid pathway forming a ventilating-thrusting tube having a rigid framework construction, wherein the intersection of the axial fluid pathway and the radial fluid pathway form a central point with an area radially extending from said central point having an increased inside diameter,   propulsion means having a thrust generating direction which is adjustable, arranged directly at the central point, so that the thrust generating direction can be brought into agreement with one of said fluid pathways, and   a lift balloon arranged beside the ventilating-thrusting tube wherein a gap is formed between the ventilating-thrusting tube and the lift balloon to allow air to flow therethrough.   
     
     
       2. The airship of claim 1, wherein the body of the airship is formed by a plurality of lift balloons. 
     
     
       3. The airship of claim 2, wherein: a cockpit and a cabin are provided in the bottom of the airship body,   at least two lift balloons are arranged on both sides of the cockpit, and   the cockpit and the cabin have a floor level slightly elevated relative to the bottoms of the lift balloons on both sides.   
     
     
       4. The airship of claim 1, wherein the body of the airship has a cross sectional shape like a hexagon. 
     
     
       5. The airship of claim 1, wherein the body of the airship has a profile shape like a wing profile. 
     
     
       6. The airship of claim 1, wherein a cockpit and a cabin are integratedly formed together with the framework comprising the axial fluid pathway and the radial fluid pathway.